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Portamento


A smooth technical slide consisting of a quick pass from one note to another, touching the intermediate notes slightly (without exactly specifying their pitch).

The term came from the Italian expression “portamento della voce” (“carriage of the voice”), which is in use in vocal music from the beginning of the 17th century.

It is noted with a small line that connects the two notes among  which portamento is played.

It is used in both vocal and music for string and wind instruments.



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